“Prescription pill abuse is a major problem in Ohio,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Whether it is a doctor selling prescriptions or people using the mail to ship pills across the country, we are committed to stopping the flow of illegal drugs.”

According to the indictment, Ransom obtained a total of 2,989 pills (30 mg each) of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, in California and mailed them to Black, Hageman and others in Ohio via the United States Postal Service Express Mail

Ransom often packaged the pills in video movie disc covers, plastic bubble mailing envelopes and other packaging to conceal the contents, according to the indictment.

Black and Hageman made arrangements with other individuals to receive the package from Ransom in return for money, usually $200, according to the indictment.

The conspiracy took place between at least August 2012 through April 2013, with Ransom mailing packages to addresses in Lakewood, Seven Hills, Akron and Mansfield containing shipments of between 200 and 600 pills, according to the indictment.

The indictment results from an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, in Cleveland, with the assistance of Metro-Richland County (Ohio) Enforcement Unit, and the Akron, Police Department, as well as the United States Postal Inspection Service, in Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Police Department.